Before submitting a manuscript, authors should ensure that:

• The manuscript falls within the journal's scope.

• The work is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.

• All authors have approved the manuscript.

• The manuscript complies with the journal's formatting requirements.

• All required statements and declarations are included.

• The submission complies with the journal's Publication Ethics and Editorial Policies.

2. Types of Manuscripts

Research Articles

Original empirical or theoretical studies.

Recommended length: 6,000–10,000 words.

Review Articles

Critical reviews and syntheses of research literature.

Recommended length: 5,000–10,000 words.

Book Reviews

Reviews of recently published scholarly books relevant to the journal's scope.

Recommended length: 1,000–2,000 words.

3. Language of Publication

JRLT publishes manuscripts in English.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that manuscripts are linguistically accurate and professionally written prior to submission.

The editorial office may recommend language editing before peer review or publication.

4. Manuscript Preparation

General Formatting

Manuscripts should:

• Be prepared in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx)

• Use Times New Roman, 12-point font

• Be double-spaced

• Use continuous page numbering

• Include line numbering (recommended)

5. Title Page

A separate title page should include:

• Title of the manuscript

• Full names of all authors

• Institutional affiliations

• Country

• ORCID iDs (strongly encouraged)

• Corresponding author details

• Email addresses

• Funding information (if applicable)

The manuscript file should not contain identifying information to preserve double-blind review.

6. Manuscript Structure

Research articles should normally include:

• Title

• Abstract

• Keywords

• Introduction

• Literature Review (where appropriate)

• Methodology

• Results/Findings

• Discussion

• Conclusion

• Acknowledgements (optional)

• Funding Statement

• Conflict of Interest Statement

• Data Availability Statement

• References

• Appendices (if applicable)

7. Abstract and Keywords

Abstract

The abstract should:

• Be between 150 and 250 words

• Clearly state:

  • Purpose

  • Methodology

  • Main findings

  • Contribution

Keywords

Provide 4–8 keywords.

8. Tables, Figures and Illustrations

Authors should:

• Number tables and figures consecutively

• Provide descriptive titles and captions

• Refer to all tables and figures in the text

• Ensure image quality suitable for publication

9. Referencing Style

JRLT follows the APA 7th Edition referencing style.

Authors are responsible for ensuring:

• Accurate citations

• Complete references

• Consistency between in-text citations and reference lists

• Inclusion of DOI links whenever available

10. Required Statements

All manuscripts must include:

Funding Statement

Example:

This research received no external funding.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Example:

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

Example:

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

AI Disclosure Statement (if applicable)

Example:

The authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI) for language editing assistance. All content was reviewed and verified by the authors.

11. Submission Process

Manuscripts must be submitted through the JRLT online submission system.

Authors should upload:

• Anonymous manuscript

• Title page

• Supplementary files (if applicable)

Incomplete submissions may be returned before review.

12. Peer Review

JRLT uses a double-blind peer-review process.

All manuscripts undergo:

1. Editorial screening

2. Similarity check

3. External peer review

4. Revision (if required)

5. Final editorial decision

For further details, please consult the Peer Review Process page.

13. Publication Charges

JRLT does not currently charge:

• Submission fees

• Article processing charges (APCs)

Any future changes will be announced on the journal website.

14. Open Access Policy

JRLT provides immediate open access to all published content.

Published articles are freely available online without subscription or access fees.

15. Copyright and Licensing

Authors retain copyright of their work unless otherwise specified.

Articles are published under the licensing terms stated on the journal website.

16. Contact Information

Questions regarding manuscript preparation or submission should be directed to the editorial office through the journal's official contact channels.

One thing I would add for Scopus readiness

Immediately below the title "Author Guidelines", include a Submission Checklist. This is very common among Scopus-indexed journals:

✔ Manuscript fits the journal's scope
✔ Title page uploaded separately
✔ Manuscript anonymized
✔ APA 7th edition followed
✔ Abstract (150–250 words) included
✔ 4–8 keywords included
✔ Funding statement included
✔ Conflict of interest statement included
✔ Data availability statement included
✔ AI disclosure statement included (if applicable)

This simple checklist significantly improves submission quality and demonstrates editorial professionalism.